Palestinian filmmakers from different locations – Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza – challenge the erasure of their histories through creatively retracing, retrieving and reflecting on different aspects of Palestinian pasts to challenge the dispossession and dehumanisation of a stateless people. The films are part of the Creative Interruptions research project. The filmmakers will be present at the screenings to discuss their new films and how creativity can challenge dominant narratives.
17 June The Past in the Present, Safra Lecture Theatre, Kings College London 19.50
22 June The Past in the Present screening and Q&A at Showroom, Sheffield 17:00
24 June The Past in the Present screening and Q&A , HOME, Manchester 17.50 tbc
For details of how to book, please visit our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/CinemaPalestino/
Three Palestinian Shorts
The Silent Protest
The Silent Protest: Jerusalem 1929 (2019)
dir Mahasen Nasser-Eldin; 20 mins
On 26 October 1929, Palestinian women launched their women’s movement. Approximately 300 women converged on Jerusalem from all over Palestine. They held a silent demonstration through a car convoy to protest at the British High Commissioner’s bias against Arabs in the Buraq uprising. This is their story on that day.
Jerusalem-born filmmaker Mahasen Nasser-Eldin specializes in reconstructing and scripting historical narratives using audio and visual archives to restore new life to forgotten figures and celebrate those on the margins of society. Mahasen holds an MA degree in filmmaking from Goldsmiths College, London and an MA in Arab Studies from Georgetown University, Washington DC. She is a lecturer in visual cultures and film production at Bethlehem’s Dar al-Kalima University College of Arts and Culture. http://mahasenfilms.com/
Eight Years Later
Eight Years Later (2019)
Dir Salim Abu Jabal; 25 mins
In 2010 filmmaker, SalimAbu Jabal visited the villages of Nabi Saleh and Deir Ghassana where the weekly non-violent Friday demonstrations were being held against the occupation. He interviewed some of the children who were taking part. In 2018 Salimsearched for these children who are now between the ages of 17 and 20 to find out how the political situation and the passing of time have affected their lives.
Salim Abu Jabal is a filmmaker, journalist and film critic. He has produced and directed several films, series, and programs. His first feature ‘Roshmia’ was awarded “Special Jury Prize” at Dubai Int’l Film Festival, “Grand Prix du Documentaire” at Festival Int’l Cinéma Tétouan, “Best Documentary, Open Eyes Award” at MedFilm Festival Rome and other awards and was also officially selected by IDFA 2015. https://youtu.be/KdWxDpxGtPU
Gazagraph
Gazagraph
Dir Yousef Nateel; Prodr Hussein Owda; 40 mins
Tracing the presence of everything from the earliest glass plate negatives to contemporary digital photography the director explores the way in which Gaza has been documented across the decades. Travelling across Gaza City we meet the successors of the city’s former Armenian photographers as well as contemporary practitioners and gain insight into histories of migration, injustice and Gaza’s social and political past.
Yousef Nateel is a Palestinian filmmaker/director and founder and CEO of Skills Media Production. He holds a degree in TV arts and production and has worked as a filmmaker and production manager. at PYALRA and Sharek Youth Forum. In 2012 he worked as production manager for Gaza 36mm and Sara, selected for Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF). In 2016, Yousef won a grant from A. M. Qattan Foundation and the Danish CKU for the development of his film GazaGraphwhich he completed through Creative Interruptions. https://youtu.be/arSHRKBXOxU
Hussein Owda is a Palestinian film producer. He has extensive experience in Multimedia project management and is a former CEO for Zaitoon for Animation and Video Games. He and teaches multi-media at universities level. Hussein hopes that GazaGraph will encourage dialogue and foster community links through giving insight into the ways in which Gaza has been documented across the decades.